Germany welcome in GCAP, but new Leonardo boss warns about timing

ROME — The head of Italian defense firm Leonardo has welcomed the possibility of Germany entering the Italo-Japanese-UK GCAP fighter program but has warned that adding a new member could push back the delivery date.

Leonardo CEO Lorenzo Mariani spoke on Wednesday after the collapse of the French-German Future Combat Air System program on Monday, following months of rows between French and German industry over work share on the sixth-generation jet.

Meanwhile, Italy, Japan and the UK are teaming on the rival GCAP project and are aiming to fly a new aircraft by 2035.

Asked if Germany could get on board the program, Mariani told Defense News: “It would be a good thing in terms of capabilities and cost sharing, but one also has to be mindful about the target date of 2035 for having the jet flying.”

He added that the advantages of a new partner were extra cash and know-how.

“While this is more for governments to evaluate and decide upon, more partners possibly joining GCAP would bring more competences and financial support,” he said.

“Clearly, we have to be mindful that this might have an impact on development schedule and milestones. So we need to bear in mind we have to find the right balance,” he added.

Japan is already reportedly nervous about the the 2035 deadline slipping, particularly given the UK’s current struggles to raise new defense funding.

Speaking on Tuesday, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius listed three options to ensure Germany’s fighter needs following the collapse of FCAS, which was first planned in 2017.

One option was to purchase more F-35s to fill the gap, a second option was to join an existing international program, while the third option - Pistorius said - was to start a new program “under German leadership with Airbus and other partners.”

The third option would add yet another new fighter in Europe, just as the continent attempts to reduce overlapping programs, increase jointly designed and built systems and save scant funds in the process.

Mariani said, “Europe cannot have too many sixth-generation fighters under development, this is neither affordable nor helps Europe’s competitiveness.”

Meanwhile, Airbus is said to be considering a potential connection with Sweden’s Saab in the push for a next-gen fighter, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

Stockholm has been keeping its options open for buying or developing a new fighter jet to succeed the country’s Gripen warplanes, with only exploratory studies having taken place so far.

Tom Kington is the Italy correspondent for Defense News.

罗马——意大利国防公司莱昂纳多的负责人对德国可能加入意日英三国联合的GCAP战斗机项目表示欢迎，但他警告说，增加一个新成员可能会推迟交付日期。

在法国和德国未来作战空中系统项目于周一宣告失败后，莱昂纳多公司首席执行官洛伦佐·马里亚尼于周三发表了讲话。此前，法国和德国工业界就第六代喷气式飞机的研发工作份额问题进行了数月的争论。

与此同时，意大利、日本和英国正在合作开展与之竞争的GCAP项目，目标是在2035年之前试飞新型飞机。

当被问及德国是否可以加入该计划时，马里亚尼告诉《防务新闻》：“从能力和成本分摊的角度来看，这将是一件好事，但人们也必须注意2035年喷气式飞机首飞的目标日期。”

他还补充说，新合作伙伴的优势在于额外的资金和专业知识。

“虽然这更多应由各国政府评估和决定，但更多合作伙伴加入GCAP将带来更多能力和财政支持，”他说。

“显然，我们必须意识到这可能会对开发进度和里程碑产生影响。因此，我们需要牢记，必须找到合适的平衡点，”他补充道。

据报道，日本已经对2035年最后期限的推迟感到担忧，尤其是考虑到英国目前在筹集新的国防资金方面面临的困难。

德国国防部长鲍里斯·皮斯托里乌斯周二发表讲话，列出了三种方案，以确保德国在未来空中作战系统（FCAS）项目失败后满足其战斗机需求。该项目最初于 2017 年提出。

皮斯托瑞斯表示，其中一个选择是购买更多 F-35 来填补空缺，第二个选择是加入现有的国际项目，而第三个选择是“在德国的领导下，与空客和其他合作伙伴一起启动一个新项目”。

第三种选择将在欧洲再增加一种新的战斗机，而此时欧洲大陆正努力减少重叠项目，增加联合设计和制造的系统，并在这一过程中节省少量资金。

马里亚尼表示：“欧洲不能有太多正在研发的第六代战斗机，这既不经济，也无助于提升欧洲的竞争力。”

据路透社周三报道，空客公司正在考虑与瑞典萨博公司合作，共同研发下一代战斗机。

斯德哥尔摩一直在考虑购买或研发新型战斗机来取代该国的鹰狮战斗机，但目前只进行了一些探索性研究。

汤姆·金顿是《防务新闻》驻意大利记者。